Lot Essay
Few collectors are aware of the existence of this very unusual and extremely rare large-size vintage Longines pilot’s watch. Its 47 mm. diameter case, sensational black 24-hour dial, big spherical crown and superb looks make this amazing civil aviation timepiece one of the ultimate models among all vintage Longines. It is thought that 100 pieces were originally made although only a handful of examples are publicly known to date.
The connection between Swissair and Longines is not well documented, but it is clear that Longines made this series of oversized pilot’s wristwatches especially for Swissair and evidently as a direct collaboration, rather than through a third party, to supply watches to fulfil the specific order. This is confirmed by the Extract from the Archives which shows that the present watch was invoiced directly to the airline in December 1957. This series of timepieces, of which the present watch is number 75, have identical characteristics: large diameter case, back cover engraved with the name 'SWISSAIR' and the issue number; oversized spherical ‘onion’ winding crown and 24-hour calibrated dial. The 24-hour dial would have allowed the wearer to know whether the time in his or her location was either AM or PM. The movement caliber 37.9 S was an indirect centre seconds variant of caliber 37.9. Importantly, it also features a hacking feature which allows the watch to be precisely set to the exact second. Longines caliber 37.9 S was only ever used in three references; 6630 – the present model; 4356 – Weems model of 1957; and 6295 – a pocket watch, manufactured in 1951.
So rarely seen on the market, this Longines for Swissair 24-hour watch has an irresistible appeal, this coupled with the absolute scarcity of examples, make it perhaps the most desirable of all Longines vintage wristwatches.
The connection between Swissair and Longines is not well documented, but it is clear that Longines made this series of oversized pilot’s wristwatches especially for Swissair and evidently as a direct collaboration, rather than through a third party, to supply watches to fulfil the specific order. This is confirmed by the Extract from the Archives which shows that the present watch was invoiced directly to the airline in December 1957. This series of timepieces, of which the present watch is number 75, have identical characteristics: large diameter case, back cover engraved with the name 'SWISSAIR' and the issue number; oversized spherical ‘onion’ winding crown and 24-hour calibrated dial. The 24-hour dial would have allowed the wearer to know whether the time in his or her location was either AM or PM. The movement caliber 37.9 S was an indirect centre seconds variant of caliber 37.9. Importantly, it also features a hacking feature which allows the watch to be precisely set to the exact second. Longines caliber 37.9 S was only ever used in three references; 6630 – the present model; 4356 – Weems model of 1957; and 6295 – a pocket watch, manufactured in 1951.
So rarely seen on the market, this Longines for Swissair 24-hour watch has an irresistible appeal, this coupled with the absolute scarcity of examples, make it perhaps the most desirable of all Longines vintage wristwatches.